Dhananjaya de Silva Biography: Birthday, Career, Stats and Records

Dhananjaya de Silva is a Sri Lankan all‑rounder who has captained the Test side and represents the nation in all three formats.

Born on 6 September 1991 in Hambantota, Dhananjaya de Silva is a Sri Lankan professional cricketer who bats in the middle order and bowls off‑spin. He plays for Sri Lanka in Tests, ODIs and T20Is and turns out domestically for Badureliya Sports Club, Kandurata Maroons, Ragama Cricket Club and Tamil Union.

Across 68 Tests he has amassed 4,431 runs at 39.21, including 13 centuries and 20 fifties, and taken 43 wickets at 53.93. In 82 ODIs he has scored 1,769 runs at 26.01 and claimed 41 wickets, while in 44 T20Is he has made 786 runs and captured 16 wickets. He captained Sri Lanka in Tests and was named Test batsman of the year for the 2016–17 season.

Dhananjaya de Silva: quick facts

Born: 6 September 1991, Hambantota
Team: Sri Lanka
Teams: Badureliya Sports Club, Kandurata Maroons, Ragama Cricket Club

Dhananjaya de Silva career statistics

Batting

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs	Highest	Average	Strike rate	100s	50s
Tests	68	122	4,431	173	39.21	58.02	13	20
ODIs	82	76	1,769	93	26.01	77.96	0	9
T20Is	44	44	786	62	19.17	113.09	0	2

Bowling

Format	Matches	Wickets	Best	Average	Economy
Tests	68	43	3/25	53.93	3.34
ODIs	82	41	3/32	43.07	5.17
T20Is	44	16	2/22	21.50	6.79

Figures as of 12 November 2026. Figures from Cricsheet (cricsheet.org), Open Data Commons Attribution licence.

Dhananjaya de Silva’s early life

Dhananjaya de Silva was born on 6 September 1991 at Hambantota as the second son in a family of three brothers. He began his cricketing journey at Deberawewa National School in Tissamaharama before moving to Galle, where he briefly attended Mahanama College, Colombo, and then Richmond College, Galle. At Richmond he played senior school cricket and captained the first XI in the 2010/2011 season.

His father, Ranjan de Silva, was a politician. On 25 May 2018 the elder de Silva was murdered by an unidentified gunman in front of their Ratmalana house, prompting Dhananjaya to withdraw from the Sri Lankan squad for the West Indies tour before re‑joining for the second match.

Dhananjaya de Silva’s domestic career

Domestically, de Silva has represented Badureliya Sports Club, Kandurata Maroons and Ragama Cricket Club, and also plays for Tamil Union. In March 2018 he was appointed vice‑captain of the Colombo squad for the 2017–18 Super Four Provincial Tournament and later named in Colombo's side for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.

He featured in the inaugural 2018 SLC T20 League for Galle and was again selected for Galle's squad in the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament, where he earned the player of the tournament award. The Lanka Premier League saw him drafted by the Jaffna Stallions in 2020, captaining the SLC Blues in the 2021 Invitational T20 League, and signing for the Jaffna Kings in the 2022 edition.

Dhananjaya de Silva’s international career

De Silva entered the international arena in July 2015, debuting in T20Is against Pakistan at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 30 July 2015. He made his ODI debut versus Ireland on 16 June 2016, receiving Sri Lanka cap number 169, and his Test debut came against Australia at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on 26 July 2016, where he became the first Sri Lankan to score a six on debut.

In Tests he has played 68 matches, scoring 4,431 runs in 122 innings at an average of 39.21 with a strike rate of 58.02. His highest score is 173, achieved against Bangladesh at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong on 31 January 2018, and he has recorded 13 centuries and 20 fifties. With the ball he has taken 43 wickets at 53.93, best figures 3/25 against New Zealand at Galle on 14 August 2019, and has held 88 catches. He captained Sri Lanka in Tests before resigning in October 2026 after 18 matches.

In ODIs de Silva has appeared in 82 games, scoring 1,769 runs at 26.01 with a top score of 93 and claiming 41 wickets at 43.07, best bowling 3/32 against England at Headingley on 21 June 2019. His T20I record comprises 44 matches, 786 runs at 19.17, a highest of 62, and 16 wickets at 21.5, with best figures 2/22. He has taken 37 catches in ODIs and 21 in T20Is.

Dhananjaya de Silva’s franchise and league career

De Silva featured in the 2023 Lanka Premier League for B‑Love Kandy, scoring a brilliant fifty in the match against Dambulla Aura, although his team fell short. His performances in the league have highlighted his ability to accelerate the innings in the middle order.

On 8 October 2026 he resigned as Sri Lanka Test captain after a tenure of 18 Tests, with the board confirming his availability for the November 2026 series against Pakistan. In the subsequent series he contributed a 90‑run fourth‑wicket stand followed by an unbeaten 60‑run partnership, steering Sri Lanka past Pakistan.

Dhananjaya de Silva’s records and achievements

De Silva has amassed 14 Test centuries, the highest being 173 against Bangladesh in Chittagong on 31 January 2018. Other notable innings include 166 at Pallekele on 21 April 2021, 155 not out at Galle on 29 November 2021 and 129 against Australia at SSC Ground on 13 August 2016. He was named Test batsman of the year for the 2016–17 season and received Sri Lanka Cricket's Best Men's Test All‑rounder award in 2025.

His best bowling figures are 3/25 in Tests against New Zealand (14 August 2019) and 3/32 in ODIs against England (21 June 2019). He also recorded 3/36 against South Africa in a Test at St George's Park on 21 February 2019 and 3/41 in an ODI at the same venue on 13 March 2019. Across formats he has taken 88 Test catches, 37 ODI catches and 21 T20I catches.

Dhananjaya de Silva’s personal life

De Silva grew up as the second son of three brothers in Hambantota. His early education was at Deberawewa National School before moving to Galle for further schooling, culminating in a captaincy role at Richmond College. His father, Ranjan de Silva, was a noted politician whose murder on 25 May 2018 deeply affected the family.

Following his father's death, de Silva briefly withdrew from the West Indies tour but returned to the squad from the second match onward. Apart from cricket, he has been involved in various domestic teams and league franchises, reflecting his commitment to the sport at both national and regional levels.

Dhananjaya de Silva: frequently asked questions

When was Dhananjaya de Silva born?

Dhananjaya de Silva was born on 6 September 1991 in Hambantota.

Where is Dhananjaya de Silva from?

Dhananjaya de Silva was born in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.

Which teams has Dhananjaya de Silva played for?

Dhananjaya de Silva plays international cricket for Sri Lanka. Dhananjaya de Silva’s other teams include Badureliya Sports Club, Kandurata Maroons and Ragama Cricket Club.

When did Dhananjaya de Silva make an international debut?

Dhananjaya de Silva made a Test debut against Australia at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on 26 July 2016. Dhananjaya de Silva made an ODI debut against Australia at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 21 August 2016. Dhananjaya de Silva made a T20I debut against Pakistan at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 30 July 2015.